Starting May 4, 2026, some existing charges will be shifted to your side sewer permit invoice issued by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). These charges include drainage and wastewater latecomer fees and drainage system development charges (SDCs).
Payment of the drainage and wastewater latecomer reimbursement fees (including recording and processing fees) and drainage SDCs have been required with SPU’s water service invoice. These charges will now be on your side sewer permit invoice. You will need to pay these charges prior to side sewer permit issuance rather than with your water service application invoice.
Latecomer Agreements
Latecomer Agreements allow a developing property owner, who has been required by the City to construct and pay for water, drainage, and/or wastewater facilities as a condition of their development, to recover a portion of the construction cost of those improvements from property owners of benefiting parcels that subsequently develop and connect to or use these facilities.
Any benefiting parcel encumbered with a Latecomer Agreement (lien on property) who requests to connect to the utility must pay the latecomer reimbursement, including the processing and recording fees prior to connection. Benefiting parcels are those parcels that benefit from, but whose owners did not contribute to the construction cost or improvement of the drainage or wastewater improvements.
For more information on latecomer agreements, visit:
- Latecomer Agreements
- ENG-420: Latecomer Agreements & Municipal Assessment Reimbursement Areas for Construction of Utility System Improvements
Drainage SDCs
Payment of the drainage SDC will be required prior to side sewer permit issuance, rather than with your water service application invoice. The drainage SDC is based on the new hard surface associated with development projects.
For more information on SDCs, visit:
- Director’s Rule FIN-219: Utility System Development Charges—Requirements and Methodology
- Director’s Rule FIN-220.2: Development Charges
Reminder
As of April 13, 2026, core taps into drainage and wastewater mains are included on the side sewer permit invoice. For more information, visit Changes to Side Sewer Permit Invoicing.